OSLO, Norway – A Norwegian appeals court has struck down terror charges against an Iraqi-born Islamist cleric currently serving time for making death threats against a Norwegian politician and intimidating witnesses.

Najmaddin Faraj Ahmad, also known as Mullah Krekar, received a total of six years imprisonment after convictions earlier this year, but the appeals court on Thursday reduced that to two years and 10 months after acquitting him of inciting terror.

The court upheld the conviction linked to death threats Krekar made against one Norwegian politician and three Kurds.

The 56-year-old cleric came to Norway more than 20 years ago as a refugee. He is the founder of Ansar al-Islam, a Kurdish group listed as a terrorist organization by the United States.